The City of Brunswick Welcomes USNS Brunswick

The City of Brunswick is pleased to announce the arrival of USNS Brunswick to its namesake city, Brunswick, on Friday, May 6. In honor of the ship’s visit, the Brunswick Chamber of Commerce Golden Isles committee will host a welcome ceremony at Mary Ross Water State Park, where the ship will be docked, at 11 a.m. After the ceremony, the ship will be open for public tours until 6 p.m. On Sunday, May 8, the ship will re-open its doors to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Brunswick is a 338-foot-long aluminum catamaran designed for speed, flexibility and maneuverability. The reconfigurable 20,000-square-foot mission bay area can be quickly adapted to support a number of different missions - anything from carrying containerized portable hospitals to support disaster relief to transporting tanks and troops.

“This is an amazingly rare opportunity for Brunswick to have her namesake ship visiting her “home” as this will be the ship’s only port visit before the vessel deploys to her new homeport in the Pacific Fleet,” said Sheila McNeil, president of The Camden Partnership.

USNS Brunswick is the fourth ship in naval service named after Brunswick, Georgia. The original Navy vessel bearing the name of Brunswick was the USCGC Brunswick (WAL 509); it was a lightship completed in 1907 for the United States Lighthouse Service. As of 1987, the ship had been relocated to New York for use as floating restaurant.

“The military and civil service mariners aboard USNS Brunswick are deeply honored and humbled to be celebrated by the city of Brunswick and are excited to be a part of the 78th Annual Blessing of the Fleet,” said Captain Jason A. Ivey, master of USNS Brunswick.

“What an exciting day to have USNS Brunswick port in its namesake city. The City of Brunswick and its surrounding areas have a rich military and shipbuilding history and deserve this honor of a ship bearing the name of such a historic community. It is an honor to represent Brunswick and our military, veterans, and civilian mariners, and I look forward to this momentous day,” said Earl L. “Buddy” Carter, U.S. Representative for Georgia’s 1st congressional district.